I try not to be the guy who cries wolf too often, but it would
be a chicken move not to note the sky looks like it could be
falling on high school sports.
I try not to be the guy who cries wolf too often, but it would be a chicken move not to note the sky looks like it could be falling on high school sports.
A couple months ago, I wrote that attendance has been noticeably down at Gilroy High sporting events this year. The revenue numbers for fall and winter sports were actually slightly higher than a year prior, but the only reason for the uptick was a dollar increase in ticket prices.
Well, if you thought the floundering economy was making it tough on local teams to put butts in the seats, the swine flu pandemic – which appears to have now made its way to Gilroy after it was reported that seven students at Rucker Elementary School were showing symptoms and the school will be closed today as it awaits test results – could result in the GHS coffers not seeing another cent until the fall.
Texas and Alabama have already postponed high school sports statewide, and Branham High School in San Jose decided on Wednesday to shut down completely for a week. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to conclude that a similar scenario of halting all high school sporting events, and more importantly, all classes, could be making its way to Gilroy in the coming days.
The Central Coast Section office, which oversees sporting events as far south as King City and as far north as San Francisco, has 137 schools under its domain, CCS Assistant Commissioner Steve Filios said. No sure plan of action has been made by the CCS office on what to do if a number of schools close their doors to prevent outbreaks, but in all likelihood the section playoffs and state events would be canceled.
“I don’t think we have enough information yet to have any contingency plans,” Filios said. “It’s in the back of our mind, but it’s more kind of a wait-and-see approach right now.”
With all playoff revenues from all spring sports going to the CCS office to hold future events – money obtained through concessions stays with schools that host playoff events – any cancellation would not only rob current athletes of any payoff for the hard work they have put in this season not to mention a number of years, but it could also prevent next year’s athletes and teams from trying to achieve their goals. If the CCS is strapped for cash, how will it put on future events?
“I’d hate to speculate on any of that,” Filios said. “Bottom line, we’re all keeping our fingers crossed that this situation runs its course without losing any of the kids’ opportunities to have playoffs, or their league games for that matter.”
The East Side Union High School District could be hurt the most by any postponement or cancellation. Already needing to raise $2 million by the fall to fund sports for 11 high schools in the district next year, the prospect of having spring sports fall by the wayside could result in an out-of-sight, out-of-mind effect.
More importantly to athletes, coaches and school administrators in Gilroy, though, is the economic effect any CCS playoff cancellations would have. Garcia-Elder Sports Complex, located on the GHS campus, is scheduled to host the sectional track and field championships. Thousands of dollars would be lost if the school cannot make money off of the concessions.
With Christopher High opening its doors in the fall, which will end up splitting fan bases and revenue, any lost money today will only make things tougher tomorrow.
